CHAPTER 379: 148 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (PLEASE BOOKMARK)_2

"They have disappeared for now. However, Alchemists who can concoct the Potion of True Knowledge are rare, so it won’t be easy for them to successfully create it."

Carl nodded.

It’s likely that well-known Alchemists are already being watched, just waiting for the Sanchez brothers to appear.

"Wizard Daniel," Carl began slowly after pondering, "yesterday, a Fire Mage appeared with a special Inheritance Witchcraft. What was his name?"

"You must be talking about Viers, the fire devil—a bastard who sets fires everywhere." Daniel frowned. As if something had occurred to him, his expression turned solemn as he looked at Carl. "Although this guy is a bastard, he’s very powerful. He’s considered strong even among those at the First Rank Late Stage."

"So..." Carl trailed off.

"Regardless of what he has done, you can set it aside for now," Daniel advised.

"Yes." Carl nodded. "I understand."

"There’s another matter." Daniel took a deep breath and said, "The Clan Leader of the Mitchell family unfortunately perished in the accident yesterday. Later, you’ll come with me to offer condolences."

The Mitchell family? Their Clan Leader was a First Rank Late Stage Wizard, and their only one. He died? Without a First Rank Late Stage Wizard to lead, a major family can hardly maintain its standing. They were initially one of the four major families that claimed to protect the market. Yet, in such a short span, only two remain.

Carl’s face showed surprise, and he nodded in agreement.

「Otherworld.」

「Jiliu City.」

A man dressed in servant’s clothes walked along a mountain path, trembling as he pointed upwards.

"There, that is where Elder Carl lives."

Following him were four grotesque figures clothed in sackcloth. Their ugly faces broke into grins.

"How strange?" one of them spoke. His voice was eerie, like a beast mimicking human speech, every inflection bizarre. "Didn’t you say this Carl is the top master of Jiliu City? Why would he live in such a desolate place?"

"I... I don’t know." The man trembled, his knees buckling as he fell to the ground. "I know nothing! Please don’t kill me! I don’t want to die! I still have a family."

"How have you survived this long with such cowardice?" One of the grotesque figures touched the man’s head and chuckled. "Even if we spared you this time, you probably wouldn’t live long anyway. Might as well let me fill my belly."

"CRACK!"

With a twist of his hand, the man’s head rotated three hundred sixty degrees on his neck, terror still reflected in his eyes, not yet extinguished of life.

"HEH HEH HEH..."

The grotesque figure cackled, its mouth wide open as it swooped down and swallowed half of the man’s head in one bite.

Within a few bites, blood spurted wildly from the neck, and his entire head was soon devoured.

The other three seemed accustomed to their companion consuming a living person; one even licked his lips.

"Alright." The tallest and most robust of the four grotesques frowned. "Hurry up. The leader is still waiting for us. Don’t forget to bring that... what was it... Raging Potion?"

"Yes," the other three, obviously fearing him, quickly affirmed.

The mountain path was rugged, with only a narrow trail wide enough for passage. After the rain, it was also thick with mud.

"Damn it!" One of them flicked his left leg, shaking off the mud from his footwear, and cursed, "By Duke Olaf! I really cannot understand why someone capable of concocting magical potions would live here! Is he an ascetic?"

"Stop talking nonsense!" the tall grotesque spoke brusquely. "At least here we can avoid a lot of trouble. If it were in the city, it would not be easy to take someone away."

"Afraid of what?" someone scoffed. "The city below doesn’t have anyone of Legendary Level, nor has anyone there received the Duke’s blessing. Even if by force, we could easily snatch him away!"

"Yes," someone nodded. "But it would still be somewhat troublesome in the city."

"I’ve heard that the Raging Potion can upgrade a Knight to a Great Knight. If we have enough Great Knights..." one said.

"We could take over Duke Joe’s territory!" another added, eyes gleaming with fervor.

They followed the narrow path uphill. Gradually, a tower came into view. The ground around it was furrowed, as if tilled by a plow.

"Someone!"

The four tensed up and leapt towards the tower. Their extraordinary jumping ability would astonish any Great Knight.

"SWOOSH!"

"SWOOSH! SWOOSH!"

The four landed in front of the tower. Looking at the two figures before them, one of the grotesques frowned and barked out, "Who is Carl?"

Two figures were squatting in front of the tower.

One of them was cloaked, his features tightly concealed. He slowly raised his head upon hearing them. "Barbarians from the Olaf region. That repulsive stench... What brings you here?"

"You know us?" one of the four stepped forward and asked. "Are you the Alchemist Carl?"

"No." The cloaked figure shook his head. "I am also here to find him. You’re out of luck; he’s been at sea for over a month, and who knows when he’ll return."

"You are not?" The four of them, initially showing disappointment, suddenly exclaimed, "He hasn’t returned after more than a month?"

"Yes." The cloaked figure nodded and sighed. "You’re somewhat luckier than I am. I’ve been waiting here for over a month, and you’ve just arrived. At least your wait will be shorter than mine."

"Right!" he then asked, "What do you want with him?"

"Our leader heard that there is a mysterious Alchemist here who can concoct potions that turn people into Great Knights, so he sent us to bring him to our territory," one of them said, then frowned. "Why should I tell you?"

"Heh..." The cloaked figure chuckled. "Barbarian minds are always so dim. However, you cannot take him; Carl is to come with me."

"Come with you?" one of them roared. "Why should he?"

"Adal!" the large creature suddenly spoke. "Kill him!"

"Hmm?"

The creature named Adal was momentarily startled. Then, his face twisted into a grimace as he extended both hands and lunged toward the cloaked figure.

His movements were simple, but his speed was astonishingly fast, his momentum like that of a tiger descending a mountain.

Even an ordinary Great Knight might not be able to dodge this attack.

"WHOOSH..."

The cloaked figure swayed, drifting backward. His speed seemed slow, yet his opponent couldn’t catch him.

"A beast, even if it gains intelligence, is still a beast."

Shaking his head lightly, the cloaked figure waved to the person beside him. "Kill them all!"

The figure beside him was clad in torn, shabby robes. He was gaunt, short, and his presence was faint.

If the cloaked man hadn’t spoken, the others might have almost forgotten there was another person present.

Kill them all? The large creature sneered. I’m the bravest warrior, able to withstand even Legendary Knights! My companions, though not as strong as me, are far from weak. This man probably doesn’t know who he’s up against.

The next moment, his smirk froze on his face.

"SQUELCH!"

The advancing Adal’s body stiffened, his face filled with incredulity as he looked down at his chest.

A withered claw emerged from his chest, clutching a steaming, still-pulsating heart.

That heart... Was it mine?

"SPLAT!"

The claw exerted slight pressure, and the heart burst instantly. Adal felt a sting, and his consciousness plunged into endless darkness.

"Adal!"

"Charge!"

The remaining three’s faces drastically changed as they roared and charged forward.

The large creature was the fastest. He clenched his fist, muscles bulging, as it hurtled downwards like a hammer, wrapped in a gust of wind.

This punch could shatter hard rocks.

"BANG!"

The large creature’s movement stalled.

The gaunt, short figure merely lifted his right hand, blocking the full-force blow.

Instead, the creature felt as though he had punched a steel nail, sending pain through his fist.

"CRACK!"

The unassuming, gaunt figure merely twisted its wrist, and the large creature’s arm snapped, bone by bone.

Moreover, a deathly aura spread into his body. His peak Great Knight’s Battle Aura offered no resistance to this invading aura and was effortlessly crushed.

This is... Blasphemy...

"BANG!"

The figure in front kicked out, and the large creature’s head burst open like a smashed watermelon.

"BANG!"

"BANG! BANG!"

The figure shifted swiftly. Within a few breaths, the four men lay on the ground, lifeless.

"CLAP! CLAP!"

Carl’s figure appeared on the scene at some point. His face showed surprise as he observed the two, gently clapping. "Such speed! Such power!"

This explosive force was approaching the threshold of the First-order Middle Stage. If quantified, it would be at least a high nine—even higher than my own level a while ago.

"Is it you?"

The cloaked figure looked up. He raised his hand to remove his cloak, revealing an aged face, and knelt on one knee toward Carl.

"Holy Temple Knight Boken, at your service, Guardian!"